What DeVonta Smith's incredible catch showed Eagles' James Bradberry about moving to safety

PHILADELPHIA − James Bradberry was on the sidelines when Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts lofted a high-arcing spiral deep down the left sideline toward wide receiver DeVonta Smith.

Cornerback Kelee Ringo was with Smith step for step, and Ringo actually had good position as he went up first to try to catch the ball. Smith, however, leaped above Ringo's back and somehow hauled in the pass, practically snatching the ball a millisecond before Ringo could catch it.

"DeVonta is a great player," Ringo said. "I had great position. And it's good on good. Sometimes you win some, you lose some. It's next play type of mentality. ... You're only gonna get better going against guys that (have) all your capabilities, if not better. So I feel like being those type of situations, seeing those type of things, and just continue to learn from things like that can definitely help me become a better player."

Ringo's answer, in a way, explains why Bradberry is moving to safety, a decision Bradberry said he made on his own without the Eagles prodding after Bradberry had a dreadful 2023 season at cornerback.

Bradberry has gone through the first three training camp practices with the second unit at safety. And there is little chance that he can supplant either Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and Reed Blankenship as a starter. His chances of staying on the Eagles' 53-man roster to start the season aren't much better.

After all, Bradberry, entering his ninth season, is turning 31 next week. In the past, Bradberry had won more than his share of those battles, especially in 2022, when he was selected second-team All-Pro in helping the Eagles reach the Super Bowl.

No wonder Bradberry tersely said "why not?" when he was first asked why he made the switch. A few questions later, Bradberry explained in detail.

"After the season, I didn’t have my best year, going into my ninth year, and I know they signed Isaiah Rodgers as well," Bradberry said. "We have a lot of young guys in the room anyway, felt we were a little lighter at safety. ... Then the draft came and I kind of figured they were going to draft corners anyway because I didn’t play too well.

"That was kind of my thought process."

In fact, the Eagles drafted two cornerbacks in the first two rounds in Quinyon Mitchell in the first and Cooper DeJean in the second. Ringo was a fourth-round pick last year who played quite a bit last season, even rotating in with Bradberry late last season.

Rodgers, Ringo and Mitchell are all in competition for the starting cornerback job opposite Darius Slay. DeJean, who's expected to miss the first three weeks of camp with a hamstring injury, could be in the mix as well. DeJean is also a candidate at nickel, and Mitchell got some first-team reps there.

The Eagles are clearly headed in that direction, and Bradberry knew it in January.

While Bradberry insists he can still play corner, the Eagles haven't used him there at all this summer.

"Right now, my thought process was just try to be a valuable piece to the team, and I feel like picking up safety and learning new roles (is the way to go)," Bradberry said.

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Of course, it's not that easy. Sure, some elite corners have made the move inside to safety. Charles Woodson, for example, played there over the final four seasons of his 17-year career. Woodson is also in the Hall of Fame.

Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio knows the difficulty, too.

"You say you’ve seen that a lot over the years," Fangio said about corners becoming safeties. "The truth is, no you haven't. The list of guys successfully transitioning from corner to safety is very small, with success. There are guys that have done it, but it really wasn't what you want. We'll see if he can do that.

"James has got a good feel for football. Very knowledgeable. So that will help him in that transition."

In the meantime, the three-way battle for the starting outside cornerback job goes on without Bradberry.

Ringo is 21 years old, and his future is still ahead of him. Rodgers is 26, and he has started 10 games in his previous three seasons with the Colts. He sat out last season to serve a suspension for violating the NFL's gambling policy. And Mitchell has acquitted himself well so far, too.

Mitchell matched up against star receiver A.J. Brown in 1-on-1 drills, and he held his own. They will continue to get their chances, such as going against Smith, that used to go to Bradberry.

"Of course I want to start," Bradberry said. "Now, where am I going to start? I don’t know, but I’m working right now at safety to see if I can learn it and play that, and be a valuable asset to the team right there. Of course, we already have two starters ... so I’m just trying to find my role right now.

"I’m taking it day by day because in the NFL you never know. I could be traded, I could not be traded. I’m preparing for anything."

Training camp observations, Day 3

• First, some lineup changes: Left guard Landon Dickerson took part in the team drills for the first time, so Mekhi Becton moved back to right tackle with second unit. Becton stayed there when right guard Tyler Steen left with an undisclosed injury. Steen was replaced on the first team by Darian Kinnard, signed in the offseason after spending his first two seasons with the Chiefs.
• In addition to Smith's catch, Britain Covey also made a nice catch on a deep ball on a pass from Kenny Pickett. Mitchell was in coverage on the play.
• Rookie edge rusher Jalyx Hunt, a third-round pick, continues to impress. Late in practice, against the third-team offense, Hunt made an inside move and knocked the ball out of quarterback Tanner McKee's arm.
• The Eagles have their off day Sunday and will practice Monday at 10 a.m.

Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on X @Mfranknfl.

This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: What DeVonta Smith's incredible catch showed Eagles' James Bradberry about moving to safety